The Cabin

We spent much of 2022 living on the “blank canvas” of this goat farm, unsure of what we were to do. Except determined to follow the LORD.

It’s exciting and intimidating to feel like He’s beginning to launch us! We ended the year hosting two families on the farm over Christmas.

Austin and Griselda, a newlywed couple, stayed in Cypress Cove, the two-bedroom cabin next to us. They rested and prepared for six weeks before moving to Honduras to embark on a new season of mission work with VidaNet.

Jonathan and April Abarca, a family of seven, had just landed back in Costa Rica after serving as YWAM missionaries in Italy for a year. During that year, they lived in 27 places …and had their fifth child! They lived in the four-bedroom cabin 200 feet from our house, unceremoniously named The Cabin. (If you want to see a little walk-through video, here it is.)

Here’s the exciting thing; during the first year, when we had inquired about using The Cabin, the owners were not ready to make it available. But this time, when we asked, they gave a resounding yes! After extensive cleaning and staging, it is now available under our management.

Having the option to host guests in The Cabin and Cypress Cove feels like the long-awaited season of ministry through hospitality has begun. Praise the LORD!

Anthony & Michelle Esh & co., our good friends from Lancaster, just spent a wonderful week with us. They helped with many projects, including replacing The Cabin’s rotten bathroom floor, fixing its drain system, and converting its electric service to a panel with breakers…all while staying in it! Of course, we also explored the beautiful country together!

Tonight we pick up Wes and Cindy Williamson, dear missionary friends from Honduras, who will stay with us for a few days.

Next week, a family of seven that lives in the jungles of Siquirres (the Darcy family) will spend a night in The Cabin before doing some paperwork at the US embassy the following day.

At the end of the month, our first visitors from Heather’s family (Courtlyn and Kim Martin & co.), arrive for two weeks. We are super excited to be with them!

Our children love preparing the cabins and hosting the guests, so it’s become a beautiful family endeavor. Of course, the goodbyes are tough, though, and we continue praying that God sends a family to live on the property and serve with us…in His timing and of His choosing!

As this expression of Ad Lib Music’s mission (to eradicate isolation and burnout so that leaders bear much fruit) continues to develop in Costa Rica, we invite you to pray about coming with your family for a missions trip, supporting us financially, or bringing a team, or sending/being that family we pray for. :) That could also be your worship team for a missional retreat week, or a group of workers (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, masons, etc.) on a “working missions trip” would encourage our hearts immensely!

Love,

Dave, Heather, Aspen, Clementine, Louis, Juliana, Huxley, and Caspian Helmuth